Chapter 30: Hooked the Landlord Hook, Line, and Sinker!

Jiang Tao had originally intended to have just a tiny sip to get a taste. Yet, in just a few gulps, he drained the contents of his enamel basin and poured himself another half-basin. It was just like those scumbags who lure girls to hotels claiming they’ll "just do a little bit"—all empty words! Of course, the real culprit was that the Nu’er Hong was simply too delicious. After the first sip, he craved a second; he couldn't help himself at all!

In no time, Jiang Tao had finished over three taels. His face was slightly flushed, and he felt a warm glow spreading through his body. "Can't drink any more, really can't. Need to save some." If the system’s valuation of 20,000 per jar was accurate, he had just guzzled down six or seven thousand yuan. The thought made his heart ache, and he hurriedly capped the jar, killing any urge for another drop.

Suddenly, his ears pricked up as he heard the landlord’s voice echoing in the hallway. "Xiao Chen, keep it down when you and your girlfriend are... busy tonight. It’s not just one or two people who have complained to me about the noise keeping them awake. I understand you young people have high spirits, but you need to consider the other tenants, too. Try to be mindful of the impact..."

Hearing the exchange between the landlord and the tenant, Jiang Tao chuckled and shook his head. Several couples lived in the tenement building, and since Jiang Tao often stayed up late, he frequently heard things not suitable for children. *Wait, the landlord is a man who loves his drink and has money, too. I wonder if he’d be interested in this fine vintage?*

After enjoying the neighborhood gossip, a thought struck him, and he added the landlord to his list of potential clients. "I'll let him have a taste first." He reached for the jar, intending to pour a bit into his enamel basin, but changed his mind at the last second. "This jar has a real sense of history. Showing it to him will be much more persuasive!" With that, he left the jar on the table and stepped out of his room.

He emerged just as the landlord finished talking to the tenant named Chen and was about to turn toward the stairs. "Landlord, wait! Don't go just yet, I have something to tell you." Jiang Tao hurried over and greeted him with a smile.

"Oh? Xiao Jiang, what is it?" Lu Qian looked at him with a curious smile.

"Have a cigarette, sir. Come on, let's go into my room; I want to show you something good." Jiang Tao pulled a Liqun cigarette from his pack, handed it over, and gestured toward his door.

"Oh? What kind of good thing?" Intrigued, the old man lit the cigarette Jiang Tao had offered and followed him back to his room.

"After you, sir. Once you see it, you'll know it’s something special—it'll definitely be your favorite." Jiang Tao stood at the door, making a polite gesture to usher him in.

*My favorite?* The old man glanced around the room, seeing no young women in sight. He muttered to himself, wondering what on earth the boy was up to. Once inside, Jiang Tao closed the door.

"Sir, my father had a fellow villager bring me a few jars of 20-year-old Nu’er Hong from back home. I was wondering if you’d be interested." Jiang Tao didn't beat around the bush.

"20-year-old Nu’er Hong? Really?" Lu Qian chuckled after exhaling a cloud of smoke. His first instinct was that Jiang Tao was exaggerating. As a veteran drinker, he knew all the tricks in the liquor business—at most, they’d store a wine for five or six years, age the jar artificially, and claim it had been tucked away for decades. It was just a gimmick to hike the price.

"True or false? You can see for yourself," Jiang Tao said, pointing to the open jar on the table.

As Lu Qian followed his gesture, a flicker of genuine surprise crossed his eyes.

"These jars were buried under my family's courtyard for twenty years. My father only dug them up this year while renovating the yard," Jiang Tao continued, his story flawless. "You’ve been drinking your whole life; you must know a thing or two about old wine. This jar isn’t something that’s easy to fake."

The landlord stepped forward and ran his hand over the ceramic. His suspicions began to wane. From his experience, this wasn't a modern piece. The style and the signs of oxidation suggested it was indeed from over twenty years ago.

"Let me open it for you. Smell it—I guarantee you've never encountered a wine this fragrant." Jiang Tao snuffed out his cigarette and removed the lid. The moment he did, a rich, complex aroma filled the room.

"Good heavens! This wine... it’s so fragrant!" Lu Qian exclaimed, his nose twitching as he took deep, eager breaths. It was intoxicating. He was no stranger to high-end spirits worth thousands, but he had never encountered a scent like this.

*Gulp.* Lu Qian swallowed hard, looking at Jiang Tao with impatient eyes. "Xiao Jiang, could you spare a little for me to taste? It smells wonderful and clearly has some age on it, but I’m curious about the flavor..."

"If anyone else asked, I’d refuse, but since it’s you, I’ll certainly do you the favor." Jiang Tao poured a small amount into his enamel basin. He was careful—this stuff was precious, after all. A single sip was worth a fortune!

Watching the deep, wine-red liquid fill the basin and inhaling that irresistible fragrance, Lu Qian’s years of experience told him this was a rare find.

"Have a taste, sir. This is definitely 20 years old. If it’s even a month off, I’ll let you drink it for free," Jiang Tao said, handing him the basin.

"Let me taste it before I pass judgment." The landlord chuckled, took the basin, and took a small sip.

The moment the Nu’er Hong touched his palate, the mellow, rich, and velvety texture exploded in his mouth. The old man’s eyebrows shot up—he had truly found a gem today! He held the wine in his mouth for a dozen seconds, savoring it, before swallowing.

"Excellent wine! Delicious! When you said it was 20 years old, I doubted you, but now I’m a believer!" Lu Qian declared. "Without twenty years of fermentation and settling, you couldn't achieve this depth of flavor!"

Having started drinking at fourteen and now in his seventies, Lu Qian had fifty or sixty years of experience. One sip was all he needed to judge a wine's quality. There was no doubt about it—the jar Jiang Tao had brought out was an exceptionally rare vintage.